Beltway Battles Don't Weigh Down Shoppers

The holiday shopping season started on a positive note for retailers, as consumers opened their wallets and shrugged off worries about the fiscal cliff.

Retail sales gained 0.3% in November, offsetting a decline in the previous month tied to superstorm Sandy, the Commerce Department said. After excluding autos, gas stations and building materials—three areas hit hard by the October storm that rebounded in November—retail sales gained...